There are a few foods you might be missing on the Paleo diet – for example – mashed potatoes. What if I told you that you can kinda-sorta have them? As you will soon see, cauliflower is one of the best acceptable vegetables on the Paleo diet that can be used as a substitution.
Not only is it easy to make on its own as a veggie side dish, but due to the consistency and mild flavor, you can turn it into a lot of different foods items to replace those items you might be missing. Here are only a few of the many ways to use cauliflowers in your meals.
Rice
The first thing you might want to do with your cauliflower is put it in your food processor to chop into small pieces, then cook it like rice. It is the perfect consistency for rice and because it is bland, you can add oil and any seasonings you like. People have made fried rice, Spanish-style rice, herb rice, garlic and butter rice, and regular white rice by using cauliflower and the right seasonings. It is the ideal way to still have your favorite dinners on the Paleo diet without any grains. You can even buy already “riced” cauliflower in the frozen food department of many grocery stores.
Steaks
Cauliflower steaks are usually considered a vegan or vegetarian alternative to regular steaks, but you might find that occasionally you need a break from meat. If this is the case, cauliflower is an excellent alternative. Instead of removing the florets, you will take the entire cauliflower hole and slide it into large steak-size slices. You can then rub it in oil or butter, add seasonings like pepper and garlic powder, then bake them in the oven until tender. It makes for a much lighter meal and one that gives you a little break from meat.
Mashed Potatoes
You probably miss your mashed potatoes, which are usually made with white potatoes. Unfortunately, these are not allowed on the Paleo diet. Sweet potatoes don’t make a good alternative, but cauliflower is perfect. They will look and taste just like regular mashed potatoes, especially when you add the seasonings you prefer. While dairy usually isn’t allowed on Paleo, many people believe butter is acceptable in small quantities. Add a little butter, sea salt, and pepper for a basic mashed cauliflower-potato side dish. Even my kids like cauliflower mashed potatoes.
Cauliflower has so many different uses, so it is no surprise that it is one of the top vegetables to have on the Paleo diet. It can be used as a meat substitute, rice, potatoes, and in many other recipes. In addition to mashed potatoes, you can also use it to make au gratin potatoes, the topping for a shepherd’s pie, and in many other ways.
